Rancho Santiago, Cypress: Looks Like an Even Match

There is little difference between the Rancho Santiago and Cypress College men’s basketball teams.

Rancho Santiago starts two big guys and three guards. So does Cypress. Both teams can comfortably go five or six deep into the bench.

Rancho Santiago is 5-0 in Orange Empire Conference play.

Guess what?

So is Cypress.

Rancho Santiago (22-1 overall) is ranked second in the state. Cypress (19-3) is sixth. Rancho Santiago is ranked second in Southern California and Cypress third.

The teams will get a chance to prove which is the better for at least one night Wednesday in a 7:30 game at Cypress.

“If there is a difference between the two teams,” said Rancho Santiago Coach Dana Pagett, “I hope it’s one point in our favor; that’s all I want.”

Rancho Santiago starts Matt Lien, a 6-foot-9 sophomore, and Corie Blount, a 6-10 freshman, up front. Lien averages 18.4 points, 5.2 rebounds a game and has 36 blocked shots this season. Blount averages 14 points and 8.8 rebounds and has 39 blocked shots.

Cypress counters with Eric Pauley, a 6-10 freshman and Andre Lamoureux, a 6-9 sophomore. Alan Bruce, a 6-6 sophomore starts but is counted on more for his defense than his offense.

Pauley averages 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds and has 90 blocked shots. Lamoureux gets 11.7 points and 6.2 rebounds.

In the backcourt, Rancho Santiago is led by sophomore Gene Altamirano, who is averaging 14.8 points. He is shooting 57% (67-117) on three-point attempts as well. Freshman LaVern Broadnax (7.1 points and 2.1 assists) and sophomore Alvin Loftis (7.8 points a game) also start of Rancho Santiago.

Cypress goes with two sophomores--Grayle Humphrey and Vince Hizon--and a freshman--Brian Kenney--in the backcourt. Hizon leads the team with 15 points a game and is shooting 48% (28-58) on three-pointers. Humphrey averages 10.6 points, 4.6 assists, and is shooting 47% (30-64) on three-pointers. Kenney averages 9.8 points a game.

The major difference in the teams’ offense is that Rancho Santiago runs the fast break a little more, and averages 87.4 points a game, while giving up 71.1.

Cypress, which prefers the half-court offense, averages 80.2 points and gives up 63.5.

This will be the first of two meetings for the two teams this season. They play Feb. 17 at Rancho Santiago to end the conference season.

It took a year and a half, but Alonzo Jamison has became eligible to play basketball at Kansas.

Jamison, from Santa Ana Valley High School and Rancho Santiago College, is a junior for the Jayhawks. Jamison, a 6-6 forward, scored nine points in his debut against Elizabeth City State, Jan. 18.

He was the co-most valuable player in the state for Rancho Santiago during the 1987-88 season when he averaged 19.5 points and 12 rebounds.

He then signed a letter of intent to attend Kansas, but was academically ineligible for the 1988-89 season. He remained ineligible this fall, but at the start of the second semester was eligible.

“I’m extremely happy for Alonzo because he has worked very hard in the classroom,” Coach Roy Williams said. “He has now realized how important his work habits are in academics as well as basketball, and his 2.54 grade-point average the last two terms is evidence of this.”

Scott Campbell, the high-scoring former La Quinta High School player who was ineligible at Cal State Fullerton this season under Proposition 48, officially notified Fullerton Coach John Sneed that he is transferring to Golden West, Sneed said Monday.

Community College Notes

Five members of the Orange Coast College football team have signed letters of intent with colleges for next season. Jason McGehee (running back), Mark Craig (wide receiver) and Scott Balmos (defensive back) signed with New Mexico State. Melvin Johnson (wide receiver) has signed with the University of the Pacific, and Danny Abraham (linebacker) will play at Cal State Northridge. Dante Venturelli, a defensive end from Fullerton College, has signed with Cal State Long Beach.